Saudi Arabia has imposed an entry ban on travellers from three African countries as a precautionary measure against the spread of Ebola. The decision affects pilgrims and visitors and was announced by the Public Health Authority, known as Weqaya, on Thursday, June 25, 2026, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Under the measure, travellers coming from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and South Sudan will not be allowed to enter the Kingdom until further notice. The ban covers all categories of travellers, including those intending to perform Umrah.
Scope of the Restrictions
The Public Health Authority said it is also suspending all types of entry visas for anyone who has stayed in the three countries within 21 days before arriving in the Kingdom, even if they travelled through a third country in between. This is intended to close the gap created by indirect routes.
Enhanced preventive measures apply to travellers arriving from four nearby countries: Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania and Congo-Brazzaville. Visitors from these countries will undergo health screenings at the border along with disease surveillance, but they are not subject to the full entry ban.
Weqaya confirmed that no Ebola cases have been reported inside Saudi Arabia since 2019. The authority framed the action as a preventive step to protect public health and the safety of pilgrims and residents, rather than a response to any infection within the Kingdom.
Why the Concern
Ebola is a severe viral disease first identified in 1976 in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo. According to the World Health Organization, its case fatality rate averages around 50 percent, and the disease has killed roughly 15,000 people since its discovery.
The Saudi announcement followed news from Europe of a fresh case. French authorities confirmed that a doctor had contracted the virus after returning from a humanitarian mission in the DRC, and he was admitted to a specialised quarantine facility. The case underscored how quickly the virus can cross borders through travel.
Saudi Arabia hosts millions of pilgrims from across Africa, Asia and beyond each year. The concentration of people from many countries in Makkah and Madinah makes the holy sites particularly sensitive to imported infectious disease, which is why the Kingdom maintains strict health entry requirements and acts quickly when outbreaks emerge.
What Pilgrims Should Do
Pilgrims and prospective Umrah performers from the affected and neighbouring countries should take several practical steps. Those in the DRC, Uganda or South Sudan should expect that travel to the Kingdom is suspended until the authorities lift the ban, and should not finalise non-refundable bookings during this period. Travellers who have recently passed through any of these countries should be aware that their visas may be suspended.
Pilgrims from Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania and Congo-Brazzaville should prepare for additional health screening on arrival and carry any vaccination or health documentation they hold. All travellers should monitor official notices from the Saudi Public Health Authority and their own national health and Hajj authorities, and confirm the latest entry rules with their airline or travel agent before departure.
Health restrictions of this kind are usually temporary and tied to the course of an outbreak. The Kingdom has stated the measures will remain in place until further notice, so pilgrims affected by the ban are advised to stay patient and rely on official updates rather than unverified social media reports.
Editor's note: This article reports a public health advisory. Anyone with personal health concerns should consult a qualified medical professional and follow guidance from official health authorities.